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--- electrical:solar:panels [2020/01/14 16:23]
frater_secessus [flexible]
+++ electrical:solar:panels [2020/05/12 20:40]
frater_secessus [Solar panels]
@@ Line 3: / Line 3: @@
 Solar panels, also called photovoltaic (PV) panels, produce DC power from sunlight to charge batteries and provide electrical power.  The panels can be used single or in [[electrical:solar:series vs parallel|series or parallel]] arrays.
-Since PV necessarily run at higher voltages than the batteries they charge, a [[electrical:solar:charge controller|charge controller]] is placed between the PV and the battery bank.
+To avoid overcharging,((a bit of an oversimplification, admittedly)) a [[electrical:solar:charge controller|charge controller]] is placed between the PV and the battery bank.
 [[electrical:solar:output|Many factors]] will affect output; and panels will rarely generate power equal to their laboratory rating.
@@ Line 51: / Line 51: @@
 ==== flexible ====
-Flexible panel configurations place unusual demands on the materials.  Framed panels use extremely durable glass encapsulation((wrapping, basically) but this would not work for flex panels.  One challenge is to come up with encapsulation that is transparent, strong, and durable.
+Flexible panel configurations place unusual demands on the materials.  Framed panels use extremely durable glass encapsulation((wrapping, basically)) but this would not work for flex panels.  One challenge is to come up with encapsulation that is transparent, strong, and durable.
 Originally a clear film called PET was used for the exterior but over time durability issues related to yellowing, increasing opacity, and delamination ("peeling") were revealed, especially in high temperatures or harsh environments.   [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ETFE|ETFE]] is now commonly preferred for exterior encapsulation layers due to greater UV transparency and durability.  Flex panels that do not mention ETFE are likely encapsulated in PET.
-Flex panel started out as thin film (see below) but has moved to crystalline cells since 2018.
+The other challenge is to make solar cells that can slightly flex.
 === crystalline ===
-While the flex panel market has largely gone to poly/mono crystalline, there are obvious issues related to making flexible objects out of brittle silicon crystals.  Handle with care, and bend as little as possible.
+While the flex panel market has largely gone to poly/mono crystalline, there are obvious issues related to making flexible objects out of brittle silicon crystals.  It is not clear why the market went that direction.
+Handle with care, and bend as little as possible.
 === thin film ===

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